Check the resin code, rinse containers, and keep caps on if accepted. When in doubt, leave it out — wishcycling hurts more than it helps.
Use separate bins for recycling, compost, and trash. Label them clearly and empty the recycling stream before food dries on containers.
Remove batteries when possible, wipe personal data, and drop off at certified events or HHW facilities — never in curbside bins.
Wearable clothes belong at donation centers. Damaged textiles go to textile recycling bins so fibers can be reused instead of landfilled.
Place a small kitchen caddy for scraps, a larger sorting bin in the garage, and a cheat sheet of local dos and don’ts on the fridge.
Every city is different. Bookmark your hauler’s accepted-materials list and check holiday schedule changes before setting out bins.